Lead Nurse

Position Overview

Lead Nurse - Acute Care Unit

As a Lead Nurse, we are dedicated to your professional growth and provide access to mentorship opportunities. This role offers a chance to be part of an inclusive and progressive organization that prioritizes population health, patient safety, and overall service user experience.

We provide exceptional development opportunities, including clinical skill enhancement, resuscitation training, specialized nurse roles, and leadership development.

Your role will involve delivering clinical expertise to the team, serving as a role model in patient care delivery.

You will assist the Team Leader in the efficient management of the clinical environment.

The successful candidate must exhibit proficiency in a variety of advanced roles, including: venepuncture, cannulation, ECG recording and interpretation, plaster application, pathology sample collection, suturing, utilizing Patient Group Directions (PGDs), and interpreting x-rays, along with Advanced Life Support capabilities.

Key Responsibilities

• Assess, plan, and evaluate patient care while providing clinical expertise and serving as a role model.
• Support the effective management of the clinical area.
• Act in accordance with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct and adhere to Trust policies and procedures.
• Lead, support, supervise, and educate staff as necessary.

About Our Organization

Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust serves a diverse community of 250,000 individuals. We offer a wide range of quality services both in hospital settings and within the community for adults and children. Our mission is to enhance health outcomes for our population and address broader health determinants through collaboration with health and care partners.

Our Core Values

• Safety
• Care
• Respect
• Communication
• Learning

We believe that the most effective organizations reflect the communities they serve. We are committed to enhancing the diversity of our workforce to ensure it is representative of our local population.

We encourage applications from all backgrounds, including those from underrepresented communities, and welcome candidates regardless of race, age, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or any other characteristic.

Benefits

Our benefits package includes flexible working arrangements, 27-33 days of annual leave plus bank holidays, sick pay, NHS Pension Scheme, complimentary eye tests and health checks, gym discounts, bicycle loan schemes, salary sacrifice car schemes, and support for various personal challenges.

Job Responsibilities

Section 1 - Main Duties & Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate competence in a variety of advanced roles, including venepuncture, cannulation, ECG recording, and basic interpretation.
• Exhibit a high level of clinical decision-making skills.
• Possess excellent communication skills to ensure understanding among patients, relatives, and the multidisciplinary team regarding complex patient needs.
• Complete Trust documentation and liaise with relevant agencies regarding any safeguarding concerns.
• Maintain effective communication within the team, ensuring information is accurately transmitted during handovers and documented appropriately.
• Accurately record all documentation related to patient episodes for future reference.
• Assist in maintaining a calm, efficient, and cost-effective service.
• Facilitate the orientation of new staff within the department.
• Undertake individual responsibilities as delegated.

Professional Responsibilities:

• Deliver evidence-based nursing care through clinical assessment, care planning, delivery, evaluation, and advice in line with the NMC Code of Professional Conduct.
• Stay updated with NHS developments, particularly NICE guidelines and National Service Frameworks, ensuring nursing practice evolves accordingly.
• Engage in clinical governance initiatives and audits within the urgent care setting.
• Maintain clinical practice standards and act as a professional role model for nursing staff.
• Utilize clinical judgment to initiate appropriate nursing interventions prior to medical intervention.
• Ensure accurate, current, and contemporaneous record-keeping in compliance with NMC standards.
• Adhere to the Trust Medicines Policy and NMC standards for medication administration.
• Assist in leading specific practice development areas in line with local and national policies to enhance patient care.
• Assess and manage risks within the clinical area in accordance with health and safety legislation.
• Comply with data protection and information-sharing requirements.
• Maintain continuous professional registration with the NMC throughout employment.

Teaching & Development:

• Act as a clinical supervisor to junior staff, completing appraisals and establishing personal development plans.
• Promote clinical innovations and encourage evidence-based practices within the unit.
• Assist in developing components for a teaching program for use within the department.

Administrative/Managerial:

• Assist with duty rotas as required by senior management.
• Authorize timesheets and overtime as necessary.
• Work within clinical governance systems to ensure care is delivered effectively.
• Support the management team in resource management.
• Participate in identifying cost improvement initiatives.

Human Resources Management:

• Facilitate effective communication within and between departments.
• Provide consistent leadership to the ward/department team.
• Conduct performance reviews for junior colleagues and ensure development plans are in place.
• Participate in training and development for all staff, maintaining accurate records.
• Be involved in the induction and mentorship of newly qualified staff.
• Ensure educational objectives for student nurses and other learners are met and monitored.
• Participate in managing sickness and absence.
• Engage in clinical supervision as per Trust policy.

Section 2 - Knowledge and Skills:

• Possess evidence-based clinical knowledge relevant to the Acute Care Unit.
• Utilize clinical expertise to foster an environment conducive to meeting the educational and developmental needs of clinical staff.
• Hold qualifications relevant to the Acute Care Unit.

Section 3 - Effort and Environment:

• Engage in tasks requiring physical effort over extended periods.
• Regularly manage bodily fluids and soiled linen.
• Handle distressing and unpredictable situations frequently.
• Maintain accurate patient records consistently.
• Concentrate for extended periods and respond to unpredictable demands.
• Communicate complex information requiring empathy and tact, especially in challenging situations.
• Defuse aggressive situations using advanced communication skills.
• Work with patients with mental health needs and coordinate with relevant specialties for clinical management.

Qualifications

Essential:

• Registered General Nurse (RGN) with current NMC registration.
• Mentorship qualification.
• Immediate Life Support (ILS) training within the last two years.

Desirable:

• Advanced Life Support (ALS) training within the last four years.

Experience

Essential:

• Experience working in a multidisciplinary team.

Desirable:

• Experience in emergency care.
• Experience with HR processes.
• Experience in roster management.
• Experience in quality improvement initiatives.

Skills & Knowledge

Essential:

• Risk management.
• Record keeping.
• Health and safety compliance.
• Infection control practices.
• Clinical governance understanding.
• Performance development reviews and clinical supervision.
• Customer care and complaint management.
• Evidence of continued professional development (CPD).

Desirable:

• Evidence of participation in nurse recruitment and retention strategies.
• Experience managing budgets and implementing corrective actions.
• Experience in managing acutely unwell patients.
• Clinical skills in managing non-invasive ventilation, tracheostomy, and nasal high flow.
• Knowledge of conducting audits and developing action plans.